Karachaganak Compressor Project Reportedly Delayed

The international consortium Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (KPO) has reportedly shifted deadlines for a key technological project at the Karachaganak field, Orda.kz reports.

According to Upstream Online, citing industry sources, the launch of a new gas re-injection compressor has been pushed back to February — half a year later than originally planned.

The Eni and Shell-led consortium that operates Kazakhstan’s third largest oil development Karachaganak, is expected to delay the commissioning of a new gas injection facility at the field by six months,  Upstream Online wrote.

The project concerns KEP-1B, the second of two additional compressors planned under the Karachaganak expansion program. Work was initially scheduled for completion in September, but two sources told the publication that the installation would not be ready before February.

The first compressor, KEP-1A, is expected to be launched in the fourth quarter of this year.

KazMunayGas previously estimated the cost of the KEP-1B project at $735 million, with an expected boost in field output of 5.8 million tons annually. In spring, KMG put the compressor’s readiness at 50%, with full commissioning targeted for late 2026.

Kazakh authorities had already voiced concerns about repeated delays at Karachaganak.

Disagreements with Eni and Shell over financing and capacity led to several project suspensions, and by May, the government was openly considering transferring the project entirely to KazMunayGas.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny